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We need more trees and every tree helps

Thanks to Joanne Sales (Letter, PQB News, Sept. 20) for asking forestry companies to slow down.
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Thanks to Joanne Sales (Letter, PQB News, Sept. 20) for asking forestry companies to slow down.

Every time I see a big truck of logs go by my heart sinks even though I know people need jobs and houses must be built. Fortunately there are many organizations with big tree-planting and reforestation projects all over the world but each of us can also do small things that can have big effects.

By now everyone knows the connection between trees and climate change. Trees take up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere thereby filtering pollutants from the air and in exchange release oxygen we all need to breathe. Trees stabilize soil, prevent runoffs, help provide clean water, cool the air and increase our overall health and wellbeing.

We want to live in cities with trees and many are planted in parks and neighbourhoods but there is not always enough parks staff to take care of them all so some trees suffer and eventually die. If you see that happening, alert parks staff and they could possibly save them with water bags.

If you live on a tree-lined street, give the one in front of your house or business a bucket of water regularly throughout the dry summer months.

Students can plant trees along school yard perimeters and be taught how to care for them.

Overgrown gardens benefit from “editing” but if a tree has grown too big maybe it could be pruned instead of cut down.

We need more trees and every tree helps.

Louise Wall

Qualicum Beach